Refrigerating apparatus



Feb. 22, 1938. i El c. RANEY 2,109,202

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1935 ig r:

INVENTOR BYfsfe/ 1% may ATTORNE creases, its valve closing pressure will be decreased. Therefore. it is apparent that when warm gaseous refrigerant flows into the chamber 34 from the condenser the strip 43 will increase its the pressure within the high pressure side of system prior to attainment of the bursting pressure on the high pressure side. It is to be understood that this opening at this time occurs under only abnormal conditions. Normally, when gas is present at the valve 31, the strip 43 will tend to hold the valve closed and when the liquid cools, the strip 43 will also cool so as to decrease the valve clsing pressure thereof and, when the temperature of the liquid decreases toa predetermined point, the pressure within the high pressure side of the system will open the valve 31 and thereby admit liquid refrigerant into the low pressure side of the system. It is to be understood that the temperature of the liquid within the chamber 34 is cooled to a lower temperature than the. temperature ofl the refrigerant when it condenses in the condenser. In other words, there is a cooling effect of the refrigerant by the lower part -of the condenser and the environment surrounding the pipe and the chamber 34 so that during normal operations the liquid inthe chamber 34 is colder than the refrigerant at the time it condenses.l

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided a refrigerating system in which, during normal operation, no refrigerant will iiow ,from the high pressure side of the system into the low pressure side unless liquid refrigerant'is present but as soon as cooled liquid refrigerant is present at the valve, it is delivered to the low pressure side. Also it is apparent that there is provided a refrigerating system which will always fail safely, that is, in case the strip 43 should break,

the pressure within the high pressure side of the system will be exertedon the valve for opening the same. Also in the event that the condenser is lnot functioning properly, the valve 31 will open before a bursting pressure is created on the high pressure side.`

Preferably the entire valve structure is permanently sealed and to accomplish this, the cov'er 32 is flared outwardly and then bent inwardly over a flange 43 on the cup 3l. The inwardly bent portion of the cover is shown at 41. If desired a screen 43 can be interposed between the cover 32 and flange of the cup 3l for preventing dirt or scale or any injurious matter from coming in contact with the valve 31. tween the flanges 46 and 41 is `sealed as by solder; Also the tube 33 is provided with a flange 49 which rests against the cup 3| at which point these elements are sealed together as by solder.

The coupling 39 is screw threaded into the tube 33 I 4to such an extent as to give the proper tension of the spring 38 and then the tube 33 is crimped as at 53 to bind the coupling in position and the joint between the coupling 39 and tube 33 is also soldered. The end of the tube 2 6 which connects with the cover 32 is also soldered into position and likewise the pipe 2| is soldered in coupling 39.

While the form of embodiment of the'present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a pre- The joint beferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a. refrigerating system, a'combination expansion and safety valve for controlling the flow-of refrigerant fromthe high pressure side of the system to the low pressure side thereof,

comprising in combination, a .valve body having a high pressure chamber adapted to be connected with the high pressure side of the refrigerating system and having a stationary valve seat at the outlet thereof, a valve cooperating with the seat and adapted to open in response to pressure within the chamber, and a resilient thermo-responsive strip disposed within the chamber 'and biased to be frictionally engaged between a wall of the chamber' and a portion of said valve and constructed to act with decreasing or increasing valve closing force on thev valve in response to decreasing or increasing temperatures, respectively, of the refrigerant in said chamber.y

2: In a refrigerating system, a combination'expansion and safety valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant from the high pressure side of the system to the low pressure side thereof, comprising in combination, a valve body having a high pressure chamber adapted to be connected with the high pressure side of the refrigerating system and having a stationary valve seat at the outlet thereof, a valve cooperating with the seat and adapted to open in response to pressure within the chamber, anda resilient hair-pin-shaped thermo-responsive strip disposed within the chamber and biased to be friction'ally engaged between a wall of the chamber and a Aportion of said valve and constructed to act with decreasing Ior increasing valve closing forc'e on the valve in response to decreasing or increasing temperatures, respectively, of the refrigerant 'in said chamber.

3. In a refrigerating system, a combination expansion and safety valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant from the high pressure side of the system to the low pressureside thereof, comprising .in combination, a valve body having a or increasing valve closing force on the valve in response. to decreasing or increasing temperatures, respectively, of the refrigerant in said chamber, said body and valve each forming a seat for the strip and said strip having a depressed portion at each end thereof and forming seats cooperating with the seats of the body and valve, said strip being formed of resilient material and biased to frictionally cause retention of the seats in cooperative relation.

4. In a refrigerating system, a combination expension and safety valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant from the high pressure side of the system to the low pressure side of 'the system,

'comprising in combination, a valve body having a high chamber adapted to be connected with the high pressure side of the refrigerating system and having a valve seat at the outlet thereof, a valve cooperatingwith'the seat, said valve being responsive to the pressure within the chamber and tending .to open in response to pressure within the chamber. thermal-responsive means adapted to respond to the temperature of the refrigerant in the high pressure side of the system, said means being connected with the valve and tending to hold the valve closed with increasing force upon increase of temperature 'of the refrigerant, the construction and arrangement of the thermalresponsive means being such that the effective valve closing force thereof increases. slower than the eective valve opening force by Ptemfe upon increase inA temperature and pressure of the refrigerant when the refrigerant is in the gaseous state.

5. In a refrigerating system, a combination expension and safety valve for controlling the flow of refrigerant from the high pressure sid'e of the system to the low pressure side of the' system, comprising in combination, a valve having a high chamber adapted to be connected with the high pressure side of the refrigerating system and having a valve seat at the outlet thereof, a valve cooperating with the seat, said valve being responsive to the pressure within the cl'iamber and tending t'o open in response to pressure within the chamber, thermal-responsive means within the chamber and responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant in the chamber, said means being connected with the valve and tending to hold the valve closed with increasingl force upon increase of temperature of the refrigerant, the construction and arrangement of the thermal-responsive means being such that the effective valve closing force thereof increases slower than the effective valve opening force by pressure upon increase in temperature and pressure of the re.-

- frigerant within the chamber when the refrigervalve cooperating with the seat, said valve being responsive to the pressure within the chamber and tending to open in response to pressure within the chamber, a bi-metal thermostat within the chamber and responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant in the chamber, said thermostat being connected with the valve and'tending to hold the valve closed with. increasing force upon increase of temperature of the refrigerant, the

construction and arrangement of the thermostat.

being such that the effective valve closing force thereof increases slower than the effective valve opening fo'rce by pressure upon increase in temperature and pressure of the refrigerant within the chamber when the refrigerant is in the gaseous state.' Y

ESTE.. C. RANEY. 

